We were able to go and spend the weekend with her and her family, and celebrate her birthday together.

She’s growing up to be a beautiful girl inside and out!

He turned 35. I’m a cradle-robber.
We got to celebrate his birthday at the end of the night, down in Maryland, with our niece, who shares the same birthday.
My sister-in-law made some delicious tiramisu. They blew out candles. We ate.

Fabio is working so much these days, that even celebrating his birthday was difficult.
I managed to make a special dinner the day before his birthday. Brasilian strogonoff over rice–one of his faves. I also made some easy brownies. I wish we could have done more.

I can’t believe how big he’s getting.

He’s had a great year, and has transitioned very well.  He enjoys the new house, especially the backyard, and will soon be enjoying the much desired tree house, as Fab is getting read to build it.

He has made friends easily, done a superb job with school, ace-ing everything on the report cards.  He played soccer this spring and had a great time getting back into it.  He’s very tall, loves to smile, and still will read anyone under the table.  (Just this evening, he started and finished a whole book, Magic Tree House’s Christmas in Camelot)  He retains all kinds of trivia, and continually wants to share it with all with us.  He will talk to anyone who will listen.

He is extremely generous and sensitive, very much a perfectionist, and has grown a lot emotionally and spiritually.

He had a great birthday, which ended with me making a cake I’d never made before.  Carrot cake with tart chocolate ganache icing.  This was Willik’s request(it’s my mom’s recipe) and it turned out yummy.  He took a version of these as cupcakes, as a treat to celebrate his birthday at school. 

Fabio took the day off work, so we could spend it together.  After we dropped off Phoenix at school,  Fabio took me to a place we’ve never been to before, called Tom’s Restaurant.  It’s been there since 1936.  It’s in Brooklyn, but it felt like we were in Cuba, or in old Jewish New York.   Their specialty was pancake, and I had pancakes with mango, blueberries and walnuts.  It was really good.

Then, we picked up my friend Liza and my godson Luke, and as a surprise, Fabio took us and Willik to the Guggenheim, to see the “I want to believe” installation, and other cool stuff.  I was impressed by Paul Klee’s work.  He was an artist from the turn of last century, creating around the 40′s and yet, the art is so modern! He has works in oil, watercolor, gouache, charcoal, transfers, pencil, and mixed media.  One guy did all that, and just encouraged me to keep on pursuing whatever varied materials I like to use, and not feel as if I have to be pigeon-holed.

The “I want to believe”show was very cool.  Made you think, and brought some concepts and ideas up close.  It was thought provoking and interesting, as well as educational.  The artist is Chinese, so there was a bit here and there, about Chinese culture and folklore weaved in.

Willik liked it as well, and I’m hoping he’ll write and draw a bit about his experience.

After the museum, and a high priced parking garage, we headed to Brooklyn again, to have lunch with Liza.  We hung out for a bit, and then left.

We came to Queens, picked up Jill, and headed to Mineola, where my sister and Stacey were both cooking a surprise meal to honor Jill and I, since her birthday is also in April.  We had Bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon , breaded fried shrimp(my fave), roasted garlic mashed potaoes, garlic sauteed spinach and rice.  It was awesome, and delicious!  Who could ask for anything more?!

I got great gifts, including $50 gift certificate to spend at Target, for the new house, and converse sneakers, a new dressy shirt, some chocolate, a necklace.  I’m set.  Look out for those pictures I’ll be taking with my macro, as soon as I get a chance to use it.   Willik made me a great drawing, and Phoenix told Fabio that he wants to get me an orange phone.  I’ll just have to wait on that one, I think.

I got several birthday calls from far away friends as well as close-by friends.  I got lots of brthday emails,  orkut and facebook greetings.  It was a wonderful day, and it feels good to be alive.

Thank you God for one more year, and a chance to honor you more and love you more.  Thanks also for great friends and family who love me and support me.